Absence Reporting

Will your child be absent?

Please notify the office as soon as possible, by phone or reporting in Family Access (instructions on this page).

360-412-4670
Leave a detailed voicemail if necessary.

Students arriving at school after 8:25 am are recorded as tardy. A guardian must accompany the student to the office to sign them in if the tardiness is to be excused. If this is not done, the tardiness will be considered unexcused.

Students arriving at school after 9:25 am are recorded as having a partial-day absence. Students who leave before 10:20 am or arrive after 12:50 pm are recorded as absent for the entire day. Students who leave school before 12:30 pm will be recorded as a partial-day absence.

Need to change after-school transportation arrangements? Please contact our office by 2:00 pm on the day of the change.

Extended planned absences affect learning and can negatively impact grades; they should be limited during the school year whenever possible. Family vacations do not fall into the legal category of excused absences unless you seek and are granted prior approval from the principal.

Consistent school attendance is required by law. Families must call the school, send a note, or report an absence in Skyward Family Access. The office must hear from parents by the day of your absence, or we will call home. See more information about the absence reporting process. An automated message via ParentSquare will go out if you do not update Skyward or call the office regarding your students' absence.

What if your student is sick?

If a student is sick and not coming to school, please call the school office at 360-412-4670 or use Skyward Family Access to report the illness. If an absence is not reported, the office staff will call to find out why the student is absent.

When a student has a fever or becomes ill at school, we will call the student's parent and send the student home. Students should be free of fever for at least 24 hours before returning to school.

If your child is absent from school, all make-up work will be given to the student upon their return. We will not provide make-up work while the child is absent because:

If a child is too sick to come to school, they should rest and recuperate.
Reading is always a standing assignment and should be done every day when possible.
Collecting homework for one child interrupts the teacher's instructional time and the class.
Missed work is not always replicable as homework and must be adjusted by the teacher.

Report an Absence in Family Access

Log in to Skyward Family Access. Contact your school office if you are unsure of your username and/or password.
If you have multiple students, click on the student you wish to report the absence for at the top of the screen (the drop-down at the top if you're using the mobile app).
Click on the Attendance tile.
Ensure you're on the Absence Requests tab (located on the left side of the screen). Click 'Add Absence Request' at the right, select the appropriate reason, add notes, and copy the request to multiple students if needed.
A message will be sent to your office with the information, and it will be pending until it has been processed.

Watch this video to see it in action!

Attendance Matters at NTPS

What is good attendance?

Why is good attendance important?

When attendance is good, students tend to perform well in school. Regular attendance ensures that:

Preschoolers build skills and develop good habits for showing up on time
Elementary students read well by the end of 3rd grade
Middle & high schoolers stay on track for graduation

When do absences become a problem?

Satisfactory: 9 or fewer absences means your student can keep up and keep learning!
Warning Signs: 10 to 17 absences in a school year mean your student will miss a lot and struggle to keep up!
Chronic Absence: 18 or more days in a year (2 days a month) is enough to warrant meeting with the student and your family to discuss any challenges that we may help overcome.

Three levels of absence issues, from satisfactory, warning, and chronic absence issues.

Regular Attendance During Winter

As winter weather and seasonal illnesses arrive, getting students to school can sometimes feel more challenging. Regular attendance is important for students to continue learning and to feel connected to their school community. We have tips to help plan ahead for weather, keep students healthy, and stay engaged in learning when in-person attendance isn’t possible.

What can parents and caregivers do?

Develop backup plans for getting your student to school in bad weather. If transportation challenges are too much, reach out to your school leadership for assistance.
If your student walks, talk to other families in your neighborhood about organizing a “walking school bus” to help students get to school safely together.
Keep your children healthy by ensuring they get plenty of rest, eat a nutritious diet, and wash their hands.

What if my child is sick?

Ask your children's teachers or the school office for resources you can use at home to support your child's learning.
Encourage your children to contact classmates or the teacher to learn what they missed.

What happens if a student misses too much school?

Too many absences—excused or unexcused—can keep students from succeeding in school and in life. Students who miss more than 1 school day a month become at risk for longer-term challenges. For example:

Half of the students, who miss 2 to 4 days in September, go on to miss nearly one month of school;
Chronically absent (2 days a month) students are more likely to drop out of high school;
Chronically absent kindergartners score 20 percent lower in reading and math in later grades;
Student absences in 8th grade are 8 times more predictive of 9th-grade course failure than test scores.
Chronic absenteeism is the strongest predictor of not graduating from high school in 6th grade.

That’s why if your student has three unexcused absences in one month, state law (RCW 28A.225.020) requires schools to schedule a family conference with the student to identify barriers and available supports to ensure regular attendance.

What can the school district do?

We know that getting to school on time can sometimes be challenging, and families may face a variety of barriers along the way. At NTPS, we are committed to partnering with families by monitoring attendance daily, noticing when students are absent or missing class, and reaching out with care and support. Our goal is to work together to address challenges that may arise, including health issues, transportation challenges, or other circumstances that may impact attendance.

What can families do?

Establish consistent bedtime and morning routines to help your child arrive ready to learn.
Prepare for the school day the night before by organizing materials, devices, activities, or clothing as needed.
Support healthy habits, including rest, nutrition, and routine medical care.
Create backup transportation or communication plans in case of unexpected situations.
Stay informed about your child’s attendance and communicate with the school when concerns come up.
Whenever possible, schedule vacations, appointments, and non-urgent activities outside of school hours or school breaks.
If your child feels worried or anxious about school, connect with teachers, counselors, or trusted school staff for support and strategies.
If your child is ill or experiencing health concerns, contact your school nurse or healthcare provider for guidance and work with the school to support missed learning opportunities

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